Friday, August 23, 2013

Thrace Cardigan

I finished my third Camp Loopy project about a week ago, and have worn it several times already. It's the perfect lightweight summer cardigan, to throw on for just a bit of coverage with lots of lacy holes to let the breezes through.

When last we spoke of this, I mentioned that I was going to make the cropped version of the cardigan. I bought the yardage for the 47" size, intending to make it a smidge smaller, since that is an inch over my size. I knitted happily away on it and realized early on that I really wouldn't need the full 6 skeins to knit it. I double- and triple-checked the pattern for the yardage and reassured myself that she did tell me to get a yardage that equates to 6 skeins of the Ultra Pima, to make the cropped version of the cardi. It became quickly apparent that if I were to knit the cropped version (with my smidgen of adjustment) it would only take 3 skeins!! Since I had so much yarn and lots of time left to complete this project before the end of August, I decided I might as well knit the longer version and use up the rest of the yarn. Having done so, I still only used 4 of the 6 skeins, so I really don't know what the designer was thinking in recommending so much yardage.

This cardi was really quick and fun and easy (a wonderful combination.) You begin on the back, by knitting a rectangular lace panel. After a couple of repeats, I had the pattern memorized, which meant that I basically didn't need to refer to the pattern at all for the rest of the cardigan, save for points where I pick up stitches or bind off a certain number, etc. You pick up stitches for the back from that panel, and cast on a bunch for the front, then knit the lace until you get to the side seam, where you do a three-needle bind off and then proceed to knit the sleeve in the round. After doing both sides, you pick up stitches to knit the bottom half of the body down toward the hem. I didn't actually worry about the measurement there, but just knit it to the length I thought was right for me. Then you pick up stitches again for the ribbed button band. But no buttons, so no buttonholes! So easy.

It took me just over two weeks to knit the whole thing, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am actually considering ordering another 3 skeins in a different
colour, to make the cropped one that I wanted in the first place.

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About Me

Living life somewhere in the grey area between Liz Lemon and Nancy Botwin. I live with my beloved Heterosexual Life Mate (HLM), no kids, two beautiful feline ladies, and what I can only assume are self-replenishing stacks of fabric and yarn.
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